Pile with reinforced leading end

ABSTRACT

This disclosure teaches a pile preferably with an H-shaped cross section and having flanges at its leading end reinforced by at least one weld bead. Each of the flanges has a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto so as to form corners. Each of the flanges also includes a median midway between the side margins. Preferably three beads are provided on each flange, each bead in the form of a chevron with an apex on the median and terminating at the corners. According to one preferred embodiment, one of the chevrons has an inclination of about 20*, one about 45* and one about 65*.

llnited States Patent 1191' Dar Come 1 May 14, I974 [52] 11.5. CI 61/53, 61/60, 52/740 [51 1 int. Cl E0211 5/28 [58] Field of Search 61/53, 58, 60, 61; 29/155;

{56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,101,272 8/1963 Setzer 295/155 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,113,704 11/1961 Germany 61/53 Primary Examiner-Jacob Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles E. Baxley [5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure teaches a pile preferably with an H- shaped cross section and having flanges at its leading end reinforced by at least one weld bead. Each of the flanges has a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto so as to form corners. Each of the flanges also includes a median midway between the side margins. Preferably three beads are provided on each flange, each bead in the form of a chevron with an apex on the median and terminating at the corners. According to'one preferred embodiment, one of the chevrons has an inclination of about 20, one about 45 and oneabout 65.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PILE WITH REINFORCED LEADING END BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a means for strengthening a leading end of a pile which is to be driven into ground whereby the pile may encounter glacial till, gravel deposits and/or boulders. Of most particular interest are piles having H-shaped cross sections which can be damaged at their leading edges causing split webs, .l-shaped distortions, crushed edges and bent flange corners, all of which can result in pile rejection.

Generally the first deformity in a pile when it isbeing driven into the ground is bending of a flange corner of its leading end. Once the flange corner bends, the ground is capable of giving more resistance and consequently the pile is subjected to greater stresses not only at its flanges but also at-its web. With this greater resistance there is experienced a rudder effect in the flanges which tends to cause the pile to drift or change direction. Overriding this'rudder effect is a realization that once a pile is underground, this rudder effect occurs, but one does not know the extent to which it occurs. As this rudder effectoccurs, a buckling condition also can be forming and such a buckling condition will for the mostpart act like a spring distorting resistance to penetration, with the effect that blows per length of penetration are rendered meaningless. I

BRIEF STATEMENT OF INVENTION thereby forcing greater deformations or changes of direction. Accordingly one object of this invention is to maintain strong, straight flanges by use of weld beads acting as strengthening ribs.

Another object of the invention is to position the weld beads close to the leading end of the pile where the impact contact area is located.

BRIEF'DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features will be seen more fully from the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pile according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings pile 11 is substantially straight with a leading end 12 to be driven into'ground l3. Pile 11 has a uniform H-shaped cross section-comprising flanges 14 and 15 joined by web 16. It should be understood that the pile might be other than of an H-shaped cross section, for example an open cylinder.

Each of the flanges 14 and 15 has a leading end margin 17 as well as side margins 18 and 19 perpendicular thereto as well as a median 20 midway between the side margins.

The crux of the present invention is to provide at least one weld bead 21 on the pile to reinforce the leading end 12. The weld bead 21 is inclined to .the leading end margin 17 of the pile. Preferably three beads 21, 22 and 23 are provided on the inner and outer face of each flange l4 and 15 with the beads each in the form of a chevron having an apex on median 20 and terminating at a corner 24. One of the chevrons has an inclination of about 20, one about 45 and one about 65.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various deviations may be made from the preferred embodiment described herein without departing from the main theme of invention set forth in the claims which follow.

.I claim:

1. A substantially straight pile with a leading end to be driven into ground, the pile having a uniform H- shaped cross section comprising two flanges joined by a web, each of the flanges having a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto as well as a me.- dian midway between the side margins, a Weld bead on at least one of the flanges for reinforcing that flange, the weld bead extending substantially from one of the side margins to the median of the flange, the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median.

'2. The pile of claim-1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median at an angle of about 20.

3. The pile of claim 1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end'margin toward the median at an angle of about 45.

4. The pile of claim 1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median at-an angle of about 65.

5. A substantially straight pile with a leading end to be driven into ground, the pile having a uniform H- shaped cross section comprising two flanges joined by a web, each of the flanges having a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto as well as a median midway between the side margins, three weld beads on one of the flanges, each of the weld beads formed as a chevron with an apex on the median and terminating at the corners, one of the weld beads inclined at an angle of about 20, one at about 45 and one at about 65.

6. A substantially straight pile of constant cross section with a leading end drivable into ground, the pile having a leading end margin in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pile, a weld bead on the pile inthe vicinity of the leading end margin whereby the weld bead effectively increases cross sectional area and therefore raises both crushing strength and lateral stability of the pile in the vicinity of the leading end margm. 

1. A substantially straight pile with a leading end to be driven into ground, the pile having a uniform H-shaped cross section comprising two flanges joined by a web, each of the flanges having a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto as well as a median midway between the side margins, a weld bead on at least one of the flanges for reinforcing that flange, the weld bead extending substantially from one of the side margins to the median of the flange, the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median.
 2. The pile of claim 1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median at an angle of about 20*.
 3. The pile of claim 1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median at an angle of about 45*.
 4. The pile of claim 1 with the weld bead inclined from the leading end margin toward the median at an angle of about 65*.
 5. A substantially straight pile with a leading end to be driven into ground, the pile having a uniform H-shaped cross section comprising two flanges joined by a web, each of the flanges having a leading end margin and side margins perpendicular thereto as well as a median midway between the side margins, three weld beads on one of the flanges, each of the weld beads formed as a chevron with an apex on the median and terminating at the corners, one of the weld beads inclined at an angle of about 20*, one at about 45* and one at about 65*.
 6. A substantially straight pile of constant cross section with a leading end drivable into ground, the pile having a leading end margin in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pile, a weld bead on the pile in the vicinity of the leading end margin whereby the weld bead effectively increases cross sectional area and therefore raises both crushing strength and lateral stability of the pile in the vicinity of the leading end margin. 